Gerda Steyn’s Comrades Record: A New Chapter in South Africa’s Ultimate Human Race

Gerda Steyn did not merely win the Comrades Marathon women’s race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. She reshaped the standard by which future champions will be measured.

In a commanding performance over the 85.77 km “Up Run”, Steyn crossed the finish line in 5:44:53, setting a new up-run record and claiming her fifth Comrades Marathon title. It was also her fourth consecutive victory in the race, further strengthening her position as one of the defining figures in modern ultra-distance running.

The result carried historic weight. Steyn beat her own previous “Up Run” course record of 5:49:46, set in 2024, and became only the second woman in history to reach five Comrades victories. For a race known as the “Ultimate Human Race”, her latest performance was not just another win. It was a statement of endurance, control and competitive dominance.

A Record Built on Precision, Patience and Power

The Comrades Marathon is never won by speed alone. The route between Durban and Pietermaritzburg demands patience, discipline and tactical maturity, especially on the “Up Run”, where the hills punish runners who attack too early.

Steyn appeared to understand that balance perfectly.

From the early stages, she controlled the pace with a measured rhythm. Her style has often been described as cheerful, but behind that visible calm was a fierce competitive edge. The decisive moment came around the four-hour mark, when Steyn finally edged ahead and broke away from Nobukhosi Tshuma.

That move proved decisive. Once clear, Steyn did not fade. She continued to drive toward Pietermaritzburg and reached the finish in 5:44:53, lowering the up-run record and reinforcing the sense that her best performances still arrive under the greatest pressure.

Tshuma took second place in 5:53:36, while Irvette van Zyl finished third in 6:02:30, completing an all-African women’s podium.

The Women’s Podium

Position	Athlete	Time
1	Gerda Steyn	5:44:53
2	Nobukhosi Tshuma	5:53:36
3	Irvette van Zyl	6:02:30

Steyn’s winning margin underlined both her race intelligence and her ability to sustain pace across brutal terrain. In ultra-marathon running, gaps are often built slowly. On Sunday, once she had created daylight, she transformed the final stretch into a demonstration of control.

Fifth Comrades Title and a Growing Legacy

Steyn’s latest win gives her five Comrades Marathon titles overall. Since her breakthrough victory in 2019, she has remained unbeaten every time she has lined up for the race.

That record comes with important context. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, and she opted out of the ultra-marathon distance in 2022 to focus on shorter distances. But when she has returned to Comrades, she has done so with authority.

Her fifth title places her in rare company. She is now described as only the second woman in history to achieve five Comrades victories, moving closer to Elena Nurgalieva’s record of eight.

That chase will now become one of the major storylines around the women’s race in future editions. Yet what makes Steyn’s record especially compelling is not just the number of titles. It is the manner of them. She is not simply surviving the Comrades route; she is repeatedly redefining what is possible on it.

The “Smiling Assassin” and the Art of Ultra-Marathon Dominance

Steyn’s nickname, the “Smiling Assassin”, captures the unusual contrast in her racing identity. She often appears relaxed and upbeat, even in the punishing stages of ultra-distance competition. But that expression can disguise a ruthless ability to execute a plan.

On Sunday, that duality was again visible. Her performance had the feel of a runner who knew exactly where the race would be won. She did not need to force a dramatic early break. Instead, she waited until the field had been tested by hours of climbing, then applied pressure at the moment when any response would be costly.

That is what separates a strong runner from a serial champion. Steyn’s dominance has become less about surprise and more about inevitability. Her rivals know she will be difficult to beat; the challenge is finding a way to stay with her when she begins to turn the race.

Two Oceans Form Confirmed Her Warning Signs

Steyn’s Comrades triumph did not arrive in isolation. Earlier in the year, she had already delivered a powerful signal at the Two Oceans Marathon, where she secured her seventh consecutive title at South Africa’s second-biggest running event.

That victory confirmed that her endurance base, race rhythm and competitive sharpness remained intact. It also showed that the demands of repeated elite ultra-marathon racing had not reduced her ability to peak for major events.

Winning Two Oceans and then returning to dominate Comrades in record time speaks to a rare level of consistency. Many athletes can produce one exceptional race. Steyn has built a pattern of excellence across years, distances and courses.

A Major Financial Reward for a Record-Breaking Run

Beyond the sporting achievement, Steyn’s performance also delivered a significant financial reward.

Her record-breaking run earned her a R2 million total payout. That included the standard R925,000 winner’s purse, a R605,000 incentive for lowering the course record, and a R550,000 bonus for breaking her own fastest average pace record.

Her reported average pace was 4:01 per kilometre across the gruelling hills of the “Up Run”, a remarkable figure given the length and difficulty of the race.

The prize structure also highlights how the Comrades Marathon is not only a cultural institution but a professional sporting event where elite performance is increasingly rewarded. For South African distance running, visible incentives can help raise standards, attract attention and encourage the next generation of athletes to see ultra-running as a serious competitive pathway.

George Kusche Adds Another Record to a Historic Day

The women’s race was not the only record-breaking performance of the day. In the men’s race, George Kusche produced a breakthrough victory of his own, setting a new up-run record.

Kusche crossed the line in 5:16:06 after a perfectly paced performance. He only took the lead with less than an hour remaining, a sign of patience and tactical timing similar to what defined Steyn’s victory.

With a 2:13 marathon personal best, Kusche’s transition to Comrades success suggested a natural progression from speed over the marathon distance to endurance over South Africa’s most famous ultra-marathon course.

Piet Wiersma finished second in 5:19:45, listed as an unofficial time, while Mbuti Mollo took third in 5:21:40, also listed as an unofficial time.

The Men’s Podium

Position	Athlete	Time
1	George Kusche	5:16:06
2	Piet Wiersma	5:19:45 unofficial time
3	Mbuti Mollo	5:21:40 unofficial time

The men’s field had entered the race without a clear favourite, creating expectations of an unpredictable battle. Kusche’s late move and record time gave the race exactly that: suspense, surprise and a new benchmark.

Why This Comrades Record Matters

The Comrades Marathon holds a unique place in South African sport. It is not simply a race for elite runners. It is a national endurance ritual, bringing together professionals, club runners, first-timers, supporters, volunteers and communities along the route.

The 2026 edition drew attention not only because of the champions but also because of its scale. The race featured 21,633 runners tackling the 85.77 km “Up Run” from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Supporting an event of that size requires enormous logistical planning, with supplies including two tons of potatoes, 43 tons of ice and 2,200,000 sachets of Thirsti Water.

Against that mass-participation backdrop, elite records become more than statistics. They give the race its headline moments. They provide the performances that future runners will measure themselves against. They also remind casual observers why the Comrades Marathon continues to command such emotional power.

Steyn’s record therefore matters on two levels. At the top end, it is an elite sporting achievement. For the wider running community, it is a symbol of what disciplined preparation and competitive courage can produce.

A Race That Blends Individual Greatness and Collective Effort

One reason Comrades continues to resonate is that it combines elite excellence with ordinary human ambition. At the front, runners like Steyn and Kusche are chasing records. Behind them, thousands are chasing personal cut-offs, club pride, family promises and lifelong dreams.

That contrast is central to the event’s appeal. The same road that produces champions also tests recreational runners who may never appear on a podium but still experience the race as one of the defining achievements of their lives.

Steyn’s win sits within that broader story. Her record gave the day its sporting headline, but it also amplified the prestige of the event for everyone involved. When the course record falls, the entire race feels bigger.

What Comes Next for Steyn?

After five Comrades titles, the question naturally turns to what remains possible.

The most obvious future storyline is whether Steyn can continue closing the gap on Elena Nurgalieva’s record of eight victories. With her current form, consistency and dominance, that conversation will only grow louder.

But ultra-marathon history is never linear. The Comrades Marathon is physically unforgiving, and repeated success requires more than talent. It demands careful scheduling, injury management, mental resilience and the ability to return motivated after already achieving almost everything the event can offer.

Still, Steyn’s latest performance suggests that she is not merely defending a legacy. She is still expanding it.

A Defining Performance in the Ultimate Human Race

Gerda Steyn’s 5:44:53 up-run record will stand as one of the defining moments of the 2026 Comrades Marathon. It brought her a fifth title, a fourth consecutive victory, a major financial reward and another powerful chapter in one of South African sport’s great modern careers.

On a day when George Kusche also broke the men’s up-run record, the race delivered a rare double statement: both elite fields produced performances that pushed the event forward.

For Steyn, however, the significance is especially deep. She has moved from champion to era-defining figure. Each Comrades victory strengthens her case as one of the greatest athletes the race has seen, and each record makes the next challenge even more compelling.

The “Ultimate Human Race” has always rewarded those who can endure pain, pace the hills and keep believing when the road stretches endlessly ahead. On Sunday, Gerda Steyn did more than endure. She conquered, accelerated and rewrote the record book.